After spending four years at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, the Club have returned home to Rotherham. The new stadium, which cost in the region of £20m to build, is located close to their old Millmoor ground where they played for 101 years. The area of Rotherham where the ground is located is historically known as New York (hence the stadium name) and is built on the site of the old Guest & Chrimes factory. Set beside the River Don, the stadium from the outside looks far larger than its 12,000 capacity and is quite striking in its design. It is totally enclosed and all seated.

On one side is the Eric Twigg Foods Pukka Pies (West) Stand. This is the largest of the four single tiered stands. It is unusual in so much that the middle seated area of the stand is situated at a lower level than either of the wings. There is an executive area above this with seating outside and yet further above is a television gantry, set into the red paneled wall. The other sides of the stadium are much smaller in size. Both ends are virtually identical, except that the Mears (South) Stand has a small electric scoreboard situated at the back of it. On the remaining side is the Ben Bennett (East) Stand, which is slightly less taller than both the ends. This simple looking stand has two large areas built into the front of the stand for the use of disabled supporters. There is a large video screen situated in the North West corner.

The most interesting feature inside the stadium is the roof. This descends down from the West Stand over the ends is large 'steps' eventually meeting the East Stand. A large amount of transparent perspex has been used in the roof to allow more light to reach the playing surface and improve their overall look. On the roof of the East Stand are two futuristic looking floodlight pylons that are supplemented by a row of lights above the West Stand.

In November 2014 the stadium was renamed the AESSEAL New York Stadium in a five year corporate sponsorship deal.

The stadium has been built in such a way and the necessary foundations have been put in place to further expand the stadium capacity to 20,000. This would be achieved by adding an additional tier to the North, South and East Stands. This may be done in phases; a first to 16,000 and then a second phase to 20,000.

Away fans are normally housed in the Mears Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 2,500 supporters can be accommodated. If only a small away following is expected then part of the Ben Bennett Stand (towards the Mears South Stand) is allocated instead. The stadium has electronic turnstiles meaning that you have to insert your ticket into a reader to gain admission. Cash is not accepted at the turnstiles and tickets for the away section can be purchased from the dedicated away ticket office at the back of the Morrison Stand.

As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities and views of the playing action are generally good. The angle of the Mears Stand is quite steep, meaning that it is a bit of a hike to get to the top.If you are a little unsteady on your feet then you may wish to consider getting a seat on one of the lower rows, as there are no handrails to hold onto. On the concourse the food and drink available includes: a range of Pukka Pies (Chicken Balti, Meat & Potato, Steak & Kidney, Cheese & Onion, all £3.20), Pasties (£3.20), Jumbo Sausage Rolls (£2.70), Hot Dogs (£3.70), Cheeseburgers (£3.90) and Burgers (£3.90). These are available from two refreshment kiosks on the concourse. I noticed that most fans tended to head to the kiosk closest to the entrance turnstiles, resulting in queues at this outlet whilst the other had few or no customers.

The stewards were generally laid back and friendly and I thought it was a nice touch that smokers were allowed to go outside the stadium for a cigarette at half time. There is also a large television screen on the concourse showing Sky Sports. My only real criticism was that I could hardly make out a single word that the stadium announcer said and that the bottom of my pie was burnt! Plus there didn't seem that there were any barriers in place at the front of the away section to prevent away fans entering the home sections. I know that this is normally not a worry, but in a more highly charged game....

Unlike most new stadiums which are situated way out of town in the middle of nowhere, the New York Stadium is located close to the town centre. This not only means good transport links but also a fair choice of eating and drinking outlets.

There are a number of pubs in the nearby town centre, which are only a few minutes walk from the stadium. These include three Wetherspoon pubs. One of these; the Bluecoat (on the Crofts) is also CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed, whilst closer to the railway station is the Rhinoceros. These pubs though tend to have more a home feel about them. A better bet may be the Bridge Inn, which is located quite close to the railway station (turn right out of the station and the pub is across the road on the left). This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide serves beers from the Old Mill Brewery as well as guest beers and a real cider. This pub was welcoming towards away fans on my visit and it wasn't too bad to get served inside.

Colin Hall a visiting Leicester City fan adds; 'We discovered the Cutlers Arms on Westgate (turn right off the Main Street), which turned out to be a most welcoming and hospitable tavern. It had a mixture of home and away fans and sold beers from the local Chantry’s brewery'. Also nearby along Westgate is the New York Tavern, which also serves Chantry's beers.

Alcohol is also available inside the stadium in the form of: Fosters and John Smiths (Both £3.40 a pint), Bulmers (£3.20 a bottle), plus Red, White and Rose wines (£4 small bottle).

If travelling by train and changing at Sheffield station, then on the station itself (Platform 1) is the Sheffield Tap which serves real ales and is run by the Thornbridge Brewery (please note though that no football colours are allowed).

Leave the M1 at Junction 34 and take the A6178 towards Rotherham. At the third roundabout called Ickles Roundabout take the first exit onto the A630 Centenary Way (signposted Doncaster), you will see the stadium on your right. You will pass the floodlights of Millmoor on your left and at the next roundabout (called the Masbrough roundabout with the Liquid night club on one corner) turn right onto Main Street and the entrance to the stadium is down on the right.

From the South:

Leave the M1 at Junction 33 and take the A630 towards Rotherham. After around two miles and crossing over three roundabouts you will reach the stadium on your right. You will pass the floodlights of Millmoor on your left and at the next roundabout (called the Masbrough roundabout with the Liquid night club on one corner) turn right onto Main Street and the entrance to the stadium is down on the right.

Car Parking

Car parking at the stadium is for permit holders only. However there are a number of pay & display car parks located around the town centre. Otherwise there is some street parking available around the area of the Millmoor ground, which is around a 15 minute walk away from the visitors turnstiles. There is a multi storey car park located next to the Interchange Bus Station which costs £2.80 for four hours.

Post Code for Sat-Nav: S60 1QY (this is the post code of the nearby Police Station on Main Street)

The nearest railway station is Rotherham Central which only a five minute walk from the New York Stadium. The stadium is located almost directly behind the railway station. As you come out of the main station entrance turn right along Bridge Street. Opposite the Bridge Inn is a footpath that goes along one side of the River Don. Walk along this footpath until you reach a car park and then head towards the car park entrance. Then turn left going up over the bridge across the river and then take the next right into Market Street. At the bottom of Market Street turn right into Main Street and the stadium entrance is down this road on the left.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

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Rotherham United v Oxford United
League One
Tuesday 13th February 2018, 7.45pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

Living in Sheffield this is a ten mile journey for me. I've been to the New York Stadium before and I think it is a great lower league ground. Rotherham United had been on a good run. Oxford United were in a bit of a rut.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The ground is very well signposted and easy to find. Previously I'd taken the train and walked. As I drove, managed to find a Pay & Display for £1.50 which was ten minutes steady walking distance away from the New York Stadium.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I traveled on my own and as it was a freezing cold night, I walked straight to the stadium for a cup of tea. I chatted to a couple of Rotherham fans on the way to the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

Previous reviewers have commented on a "mini Emirates Stadium" which I agree with that. The New York Stadium is impressive looking, bordered by a railway line and a river. There is close feel inside with good views from the away end.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The stewards were visible but unobtrusive. There were a couple of standard catering stands with a decent amount of room on the concourse and plenty of toilets. The game was dominated by a confident Rotherham United in the first half. Our defensive errors came to the fore again, but Oxford scored an excellent goal just before half time. The game was more open in the second half, but overall, Rotherham United were worthy of a 3-1 win.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Straightforward. Took a little bit of time exiting the car park, but a seamless journey after that.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Rotherham United look good for a play-off place. Whilst I am worried about Oxford's slow slide. The New York Stadium is well worth a visit for away fans - a well designed modern football ground.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

We had a chance to go to the top of the league if results went our way. We had also heard that the New York Stadium was a nice ground.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey to Rotherham was easy, with motorway most of the way. There is a large pay and display car park almost adjacent to the ground, which cost only £3 for all day.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Near the car park and opposite the Police station was a mobile butty van. We had huge and great tasting sausage sandwich for £2.50. Home fans appeared friendly and welcoming.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

First impressions of the ground are good. It is a modern and well laid out stadium with easy access. Away fans are housed behind the goal, the seating is on a quite steep angle. The steps could be tricky for someone with mobility issues.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was a great game with a solid performance from both teams Wigan won 3-1. Pies were good but a little bit expensive. The ground is very well stewarded and the staff are friendly. All the facilities appear clean and well maintained. The atmosphere was alright but always sad to see large numbers of home fans leaving before the final whistle, even if their side are losing.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

No problems at all in getting away after the game. The traffic is very well managed by stewards and police.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great day out at a good facility, With Wigan coming away top of the league.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I'm a Gills supporter living in Yorkshire, so this was a bit like a home game for me. It was also my first visit to the New York Stadium, so I was looking forward to that.

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How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

A word of advice. You want to avoid Doncaster railway station at lunchtime on a Saturday. It was heaving, and I couldn't find one of those screens that show the trains to come and which platform to go to. I had come down from York. However, trains from Doncaster to Rotherham are frequent, so that was okay. When I arrived at Rotherham I asked one of the many friendly Rotherham people I met how to find the ground. It's a ten minute walk alongside the river. Easy.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I went to the Bridge Inn. You walk out of the railway station, look to your right, and there it is. When I walked in I found a group of Gillingham supporters, friendly staff and Elixir bitter at £3.10 a pint. Repeat, £3.10 a pint. I was already loving Rotherham.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

There's been talk for many years, still ongoing, of Gillingham getting a new stadium. If ever we do, please could we have something like this? From outside it looks like a mini-Emirates. Broad walkways all around, trees, a river. Inside, it's spacious, airy, and benefits from a roof design that lets in the light. I believe the capacity is 12,000? It feels bigger.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Well, we won 3-1, so of course I feel good about the place. We scored three goals with unmarked headers from right wing crosses. If that happened to us I'd be asking some questions. When Rotherham scored the supporters made it sound like a proper stadium. The stewards were unobtrusive but happy to chat, with a good mix of women and men. One woman stood at the away end for five hours. When I asked her when she was allowed to go home, she smiled and said, "When you go home". Chicken balti pie before the game, and steak and kidney at half time. Excellent. You can get beer too, but I was saving myself for popping into the Bridge Inn again before getting the train home.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

No problem. The railway station is only a short walk away.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

This was a great day out. Of course, we won, and that always makes it good. But I experienced a great stadium for our level of football, fair and friendly Rotherham supporters before and after the game, and a proper League 1 football match. If we remain in the same division I'll definitely be going back next season.

Rotherham United v Walsall
Football League One
Tuesday 12th September 2017, 7:45pm
Darren (Walsall fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I have fond memories of the old Millmoor ground and a thrilling 3-2 win from being 2-0 down a fair few years ago.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I flew into East Midlands Airport from Guernsey. I then took a train to Sheffield, so a longer journey than most. The New York Stadium was easy to find from Rotherham Station.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I first stopped off and a had a walk around Sheffield City Centre and a few pints there, before getting back on the train for the short journey to Rotherham Central. The home fans were very friendly at the ground and after the game on the walk to the train station.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium is really well designed and was well lit up as this was a night game. I had very clear views of the pitch from behind the away end goal. I also admired the graduated roof opposite the away end.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was a terrible game for Walsall as Rotherham United won 5-1 and four of their goals were at our end. It was a nice set up in the away end, with helpful staff behind the bar, who did not gloat at half time! I had a nice pie and good pint of John Smith's.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The New York Stadium is close to the train station and just a short walk. It was then a straightforward journey to Sheffield and onto Leeds and my hotel for the night (I flew out of Leeds / Bradford Airport the next day...I know, a bit bonkers).

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A terrible result but the New York Stadium is a really nice ground, with helpful fans and staff.

Rotherham United v Bury
Football League One
Saturday 9th September 2017, 3pm
Malcolm Parr (Bury fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

This was my first visit to the New York Stadium. I wanted to see how it compared to Rotherham United's previous grounds of Millmoor and the Don Valley Stadium. both I which I had visited.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

It took about one hour and twenty minutes to drive from the Bury area to Rotherham. The New York Stadium is located just outside the town centre and is well signposted. There is no parking at the stadium but there are plenty of "pay and display" car parks within easy reach. I chose one which is about ten minutes walk from the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We didn't see any pubs nearby so we went straight into the ground. The home fans and stewards were friendly and helpful.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium is a functional, clean facility. The acoustics are excellent. The most noticeable feature was the stepped perspex roof (there was a slight leak in the roof in the away section!). The stands are steep - bear this in mind if you have mobility problems.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was an entertaining game. Rotherham United took a deserved early lead but Bury equalised shortly afterwards. Rotherham went in front again early in the second half, but we pegged them back again. Poor defending allowed the home side to score the winner in the 90th minute. The atmosphere was impressive - there was none of the mindless hostility noticeable at some grounds. Stewards were friendly and relaxed.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We chatted to some home fans as we walked back to the car. We left the car park promptly and we only encountered slightly delays as we left the area.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I enjoyed my visits to Millmoor but the New York Stadium is a better facility (comfortable, better sightlines). The newness of the ground hasn't stopped the home fans from creating a good atmosphere. However, I must add that some Bury fans missed the start of the game due to delays at the ticket office. This could cause problems with more volatile visiting fans. Overall, the result didn't spoil the day.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the New York Stadium?

This was my first competitive away league game of the season. I try to see all Charlton games home and away but missed first three games due to a family holiday. Bizarrely I saw all nine pre-season friendlies including a three match Irish tour.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I got to the Ground a little bit later than I had hoped as I was looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with the Bridge Inn pub. Our supporters coach was delayed by traffic following an accident on the M1.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As I felt I didn't have time for a relaxed couple of pints, I chose what I thought was a pretty novel pre-match activity by having a stroll along the River Roth that runs along behind the ground. It was all very relaxed with people fishing. I had a reasonable chicken balti pie and a coffee on entering the away concourse. However the service was a little slow.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

This was my third visit to the New York Stadium with Charlton. I also had been to a fixture at the old Millmoor ground a number of years before against Walsall. You always pick out new perspectives on re-visits and it was the original modern floodlight pylons that caught my eye.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

I thoroughly enjoyed the game as we won and put in a sound performance. Our fans made plenty of noise and we've extended our song repertoire with an old Herman Hermit's hit. Not much coming from the Millers fans who increasingly got frustrated with referee Trevor Kettle. It was pleasing to meet up with an old Addick friend of mine who travelled across from Stockport.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The away coach was right outside and we were back on the motorway very quickly with various renditions of 'Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see old Charlton win away, hey!'

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Rotherham have one of the better modern grounds in the New York Stadium, some of the others can be a little bland. A 2-0 win, job done. Back indoors in London for 9.45 pm for those two pints, I missed out on earlier to celebrate our win.

Rotherham United v Huddersfield Town
Football Championship League
Tuesday 14th February 2017, 7.45pm
Thomas Inglis (Visiting Dundee United Fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AEESEAL New York Stadium?

I was looking forward to visiting the New York Stadium and ticking off English ground No.70 I have visited.so far of the 92.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Not so good planning from me on this one. I booked the Megabus from Dundee at 9.45am to get to Wakefield at 16.50pm. Then had booked through 'Trainline' an 18:04 Wakefield to Rotherham train to arrive at 18.44pm. sounds fine. Unfortunately the bus drops off at Wakefield/Wooley Edge. Which is a service station on the motorway in the middle of nowhere - 6 miles from Wakefield. It was then £13 for taxi to get to Wakefield (having only paid £6 return for bus trip). The same taxi fare back after match. Anyway once at Rotherham, the ground is only 10 minutes walk from the railway station.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I had a pint in 'The Elephant and Castle' a pub just beside Wakefield train station before getting to Rotherham. Once there I had a look in club shop, a wander round the outside of the stadium. I picked up ticket and headed in to savour the local derby atmosphere.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

With it being a night game, the New York Stadium looked pretty good all lit up. Once inside it is quite impressive, being a 'new' stadium. I liked the unusual steps in the roofing of both the North and South stands from the taller West stand down to the smaller East Stand. I was sitting in the North Stand behind the goal with the Rotherham fans. I got a great view of the action.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was an exciting Yorkshire derby. Rotherham United took the lead on ten minutes when Ajayi knocked in from a corner. The equaliser 10 minutes later from Lolley was a low shot from the edge of the box that nicked off a defender to land just inside the post. Half time I sampled a steak pie which was fine, the toilets and stewarding within stadium were a good standard.

Onto the second half, with more frantic football on show, both teams trying to get on top. Rotherham's Adeyemi ran onto a smashing 25 yard drive on 70 minutes,.to give them hope of a much needed three points. Only a few minutes later though, Kachunga headed in a Mooy corner in a crowded box to level things again. Two minutes into injury time Tommy Smith screamed in a rocket shot from outside the box to seal the three points for a rampant Huddersfield side on something of a roll towards the top three of the league. There was a rousing atmosphere from both sets of fans in the 10,114 crowd.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

I went for a couple of pints in the 'Cutler's Arms' to let crowds disperse, then one in a Wetherspoons place, before getting train back to Wakefield. I then had to get the rip-off taxi back to this 'nowhere' service station, followed by bus back to Dundee for 9.40am Wednesday (a 24hour round trip).

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The New York Stadium is a nice ground and it was a fantastic game. Two 2 annoying taxi fares though, which I will e-mail Megabus about., Still I enjoyed the experience though.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

When I first saw this seasons fixtures I penciled in my diary this particular match as it would be the first time that Barnsley have played Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. The last time Barnsley played them away was at their old Millmoor ground back in 2005, when Barnsley won 1-0. Before this fixture Rotherham were lying at the foot of the Championship League and Barnsley, in 12th place, were looking for their second Yorkshire derby victory within a week having beaten Leeds United 3-2 at home.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

My journey, by car, was straightforward and so easy as I only live nine miles away from Rotherham. After travelling only 20 minutes I parked my car in a side street very near to their old Millmoor ground, which is only a ten minute walk from the New York Stadium.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I didn't do anything much before the game, so it was just a case of getting into the ground and settling down with a nice hot cuppa.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

Having driven past the New York Stadium many times in the past when heading towards the motorway I have often wondered what it was like inside. My first impression was that the Stadium could have belonged to a Premier League club. However, as I knew that the ground capacity was only 12,000 then the Stadium couldn't be as big as I thought. The Away End was in the "Mears South Stand" which can hold about 2,800 spectators and which was a sell out for the Barnsley fans. My seat was in the second row from the front and to one side of the goalmouth. I was very impressed with the amount of leg room I had, with me being over six foot tall. The whole stadium looked very compact and close to the pitch which made for very good viewing. I was very impressed with the whole Stadium and personally think it's best to have a small ground packed to the rafters than a huge ground that's only half full, as I have witnessed on many occasions this season.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

As you can imagine, with it being a local derby, the atmosphere before and during the game was very good. Rotherham started the game better than Barnsley and began to create a number of chances but to no avail. Barnsley, however, had the first clear cut chance when the ball hit the crossbar but then Rotherham counter attacked and their effort hit the post. As the first half progressed both teams played some good open football but I thought Rotherham were rather unlucky not to go into the interval without scoring. In the second half Barnsley upped their game and started pressing harder in order to break the deadlock. This came when, with 20min left to play, Barnsley passed the ball neatly from defence and from a pass that split the Rotherham defence wide open they scored a great goal in front of the Away fans. Although Rotherham continued to create more chances they were only denied an equaliser by some stunning saves from the Barnsley keeper. The match ended 1-0 to Barnsley and left Rotherham still at the foot of the Championship League with Barnsley moving up to seventh place.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

After the final whistle I made my way back to the car, and trouble free, with no problems at all. After a quick getaway I was back home for 5.45pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was yet another good away win for Barnsley especially as they had lost four players within a week due to the " January Transfer Window" including their captain Connor Hourihanes (to Villa) and Sam Winnall, their current top goal scorer (to Sheff Wednesday). As it looks now with the current league positions of both Barnsley and Rotherham it may be a while before I visit the New York Stadium again but I'm glad I did. Any local derby is always a great occasion, and this one didn't disappoint.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I'd never been to Rotherham United's new ground. I enjoy football on Boxing Day as well as it gets you out after the excesses of Christmas Day.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Motorway journey practically all the way so getting there was easy. We spotted a car park near the New York Stadium for £2 only and a 10 minute walk to the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We had a coffee outside the ground and chatted to several Rotherham fans who were very friendly and welcoming.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium looks very modern and is quite impressive when first viewed. The away section was comfortable with good facilities and the rest of the ground looked just as spacious for the home fans. My only niggle would be the narrowness of the space behind the stand made the journey to the toilet longer than it should have been due to the number of fans crowded in there.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Stewards were friendly and helpful and there was a good atmosphere created by the Wigan fans. Rotherham went 3-0 up in the first half which put a damper on the day but we scored two in the second half leaving the Yorkies hanging on at the end. Losing was a disappointment but we didn't really deserve to win on the performance we put in.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

It was a short walk back to the car and we were back on the M1 in no time. the roads around the ground are well signposted and access is very good.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Despite the result, I enjoyed the visit to the New York Stadium. The Rotherham fans were friendly and the impression I have is one of a good family club and a very comfortable, modern ground.

Rotherham United v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Saturday 26th November 2016, 5.30pm
Shaun Tully (Leeds United fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

This was my first time to Rotherham and I always like to see a new ground. Also as (at the time of writing) Rotherham's form wasn't great I was hopeful of a win!

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Rotherham's New York stadium is just a stone throw from the old Millmoor ground and is on the edge of the town centre. Having never been there before I don't know what it has replaced but I assume it was an old factory or mill by the river. Its easy enough to find from the train station or by car coming in from the M1 but parking is a bit difficult with few spaces in the side streets.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I had quite a but of time before kick off so wondered into the centre of Rotherham. Its a fairly small city centre with a few chippys cafes etc but there are a few pubs too.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

Whilst the area around Rotherham seems a little old and run down, the ground is new and looks very impressive, especially when approaching from the north along the A630. As the river runs around three sides, access is limited to only being able to approach it from the north. Away fans get the South Stand so you have to walk around the ground to gain access. Once inside the view is unrestricted and although Leeds fans never sit, the leg room for the seats is one of the most generous I've experienced. The stand is also quite steep meaning you are unlikely to have your view blocked by the fan in front.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The atmosphere was good although the home fans were a little quiet. Stewards were friendly. Didn't try the food. As for the game well we did our usual of trying to snatch defeat from the hands of victory. Rotherham went into the game with no wins in their last 13 games. They then lost two players in the first half due to injuries (including their goalkeeper) while their top striker was sent off after 30 minutes due violent play. By half time we were 2-0 up so an easy victory was being expected. But it finished 2-1 and Rotherham in the end were unlucky after an almighty scramble in our six yard box somehow failed to cross the line.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

I had parked to the east (off the A618) After leaving the ground the Police shepherded us around initially to the north west (towards the train station) which meant I ended up walking around three sides of the ground and it took me over twenty minutes to reach my car. Had I realised this I might have parked near the old Millmoor. Once on the road the traffic was fine and I was on the M1 in no time.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The New York stadium is a nice sized ground with great unrestricted views. Access could be better (more footbridges over the river) but once beyond the river its easy enough to reach the M1.

Rotherham United v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Saturday 5th November 2016, 3pm
Mike Bloor (Preston North End fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I have a friend who is at Sheffield University so when looking at the calendar for Yorkshire away fixtures I decided upon Rotherham due to the cheap tickets at £13, take note Leeds, and the fact that I couldn't do Sheffield Wednesday next month. So it was nice to see my mate and visit a new ground.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Since I was staying in Sheffield for the weekend, we took a ten minute train from Sheffield straight to Rotherham Central where we spotted some Preston fans.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We had a wander through the town centre for a bit, and watched some of the Wolves v Derby game in a pub as well. However, we got a bit bored and decided to head towards the New York Stadium. What a poor name for a football ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

The ground is a reasonably impressive structure for a club of Rotherham's size. The away stand was close to the pitch which is always good for fans.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game ended up being an easy win. It began a bit scrappy with both sides struggling to settle. However, once Hugill headed in the opener, Preston took full control. A Preston fan set off a flare after wild celebrations which angered the stewards, although I'm not sure whether the fan was caught. Robinson headed in a second which gave Rotherham a mountain to climb. McGeady and Robinson were ripping Rotherham apart at half time, we had little worries. The second half saw Rotherham give it a go and they did pull a goal back which worried the North End faithful after all the chances we missed. However, those worries were soon gone after Johnson slid the ball across goal and Vermijl charged towards the back post to slot the ball in the net, 3-1, game over.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

It was easy getting away from the ground. We just strolled back across the bridge and the train station is only round the corner.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall it was a fantastic day and it is always good to win away from home. I'm also glad I did this away day as chances are Rotherham will be back in League One next season.

Rotherham United v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Saturday 5th November 2016, 3pm
Bob Davis (Preston North End fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

First time visit to the new ground for both myself, my son and his mate. I had been to the old Millmoor ground previously and I was quite pleased to see Millmoor's old floodlights visible across from the new ground with the rather cosmopolitan sounding name The New York Stadium. Was told that the pitch at Millmoor is still there and is actually looked after by the old groundsman but not sure if that's true or not.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Drove over via the M6/M61/M60/M62/M1 and followed the directions on this website but somehow managed to drive past the junction for the A6178 so ended up south of Rotherham and heading up the A630 before spotting the ground on my right. As it was quite early did as some suggested and found a spot on a street across from the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Nipped to the ground to get an away ticket for my lads mate from the designated away tickets sales kiosk after which we spotted Rotherham player Peter Odemwingie rushing past a few home fans and declining to sign autographs as he was '10 minutes late' I think I heard him say and then headed into the town centre for a swift pint. We ended up in a pub called The County near the railway station which was a bit rough around the edges but served a pint of Strongbow for £2 was very reasonable. We then headed to a very busy McDonalds in the shopping precinct and filled up on burger & fries before heading to the stadium.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of a way end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

I thought that the New York Stadium looked quite large from the outside but on entering realised that it actually slopes from the old Millmoor ground side to the opposite River Don side with different sized seated terraces. That said it was very tidy and leant itself to a cosy feel with good views of the pitch from all stands. The away stand which I think holds about 2,400 was quite steep but offered a close up view of the pitch even from three quarters of the way up the stand were we sat or should I say stood much to the annoyance of some rather over zealous stewards who tried to get the back 6 or 7 rows of fans to sit down without much success. There mood was probably not helped by the setting off of a blue smoke bomb after the first goal that filled the stand.

As for the game, Rotherham started brightly but fell behind to two headed goals from Hugill and Robinson much to the delight of the noisy 1,559 travelling Preston faithful. That remained the score until half time and we went down to jostle for a space in the unorganised kiosks that seemed understaffed and offered the usual £3-£4 alcoholic drinks, pies at £3.20 and sausage rolls at £2.70. We settled for a brew at £2.10. One plus point was that the exit doors were opened for people to go out for a ciggie and at the same time they could get themselves a pint from a couple of mobile stands they had set up outside to serve alcohol. Maybe next time I go I will wait until half time and walk into the ground for nothing ... haha. Fair play to Rotherham who came out in the second half and had a bit of go at Preston but for me relied far too much on a long throw that was launched into the box at every opportunity from anywhere from near the half way line to the touchline. On one of the few occasions they did change it they managed to put a cross in and pulled a goal back to make the score 1-2. Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly quashed when within minutes Preston had broke away and added a third and could have scored a few more before the end of the game but it ended 1-3 to Preston with a comfortable win against Rotherham who remain bottom of the Championship.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

As I had parked in decent spot across the road from the ground so had a pretty swift getaway and we were soon heading back up the M1 with the three points in the bag and another ground ticked.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

As always nice to win away whilst watching your team and simple things like ease of access, street parking, cheap pub and a friendly enough atmosphere meant that I would probably go to Rotherham again.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

This was the third season in a row that I had done Rotherham away and with the last two being draws I was really hoping for third time lucky. Having gone to Aston Villa the Sunday before it was two short trips in a row so couldn't pass it up.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The New York Stadium is very easy to find. I knew the route from before and I found parking quite near to the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Grabbed a pint with a few mates at a pub nearby and then made our way to the ground. Didn't have any problems with home fans, never found them a problem at Rotherham, always feels like a family atmosphere so couldn't be any friendlier.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium looks nice. Obviously with the stadium being quite new the facilities are good and the away end is a decent size for the size of the stadium. Only quip is how steep the stands are, does your knees in if you're walking up to the top.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Game it self wasn't bad. 2-2 draw that looked like it could have been a good 2-1 away win at one point. Lord Bendtner hit the post in his first game, almost dream away day from that perspective. For some reason though the stewards made it a sit where you like affair meaning me and my mates had trouble finding a space for all of us, could've been solved by just making people sit where their ticket says they should, especially since it was a sell out. Other than that had no problems with stewards.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Had a bit of trouble getting out of the car park but that is to be expected. If you go to a night game then try and avoid motorways on the way home as they regularly reduce the motorway down to one lane every few miles, for some reason or another.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall a good night out. The New York Stadium is a nice venue. A win would have been preferred but would definitely recommend doing Rotherham away if you get the chance.

Rotherham United v Bristol City
Football Championship League
Saturday 10th September 2016, 3pm
Chris Giles (Bristol City fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

After visiting the previous season and seeing us get well beaten 3-0, this time around optimism was high amongst our fans for a much better result. Bristol City were in good form and we had strengthened the team in the Summer transfer window.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The drive up from Bristol wasn't as bad as expected. After the standard motorway drive, I parked at the previously mentioned Westgate public parking, which was fairly empty when we got there at about 1:15pm. Costing £2 for all day parking (the machine doesn't give change!!) and only a 5-10 minute walk away from the ground, you cant go wrong!

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Being with my 6 year old son, we had already eaten on the way up so we went in the local pub on Westgate, The New Yorker, which was an old fashioned, cheap pub full of Rotherham fans of all ages that were friendly and welcoming, though I suspect this may be due to me being with my son, rather than a group of lads.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

First thoughts on seeing the New York Stadium for me, were the same as last season. That it looked like a good ground, which was slightly different to the other modern "bowl" designed stadiums. Although the stands are joined together, to enclose the stadium, it still had different roof sizes, as well as different looking brickwork. It was also slightly better than last year as it wasn't pouring with rain this time around!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game itself was probably the most one sided game I have ever seen us play. Both teams looking to play football the right way (which is the only way we look to play these days) and had a couple of slight early chances before we took control. Rotherham were gifted the lead early on though after a shocking mix up between defender and keeper let their striker in to run the ball in to the goal. After that it was one way traffic without putting the ball in the back of the net. The second half started the same as the first half ended, with us on top, until Rotherham had a rare attack down their left, cutting it inside and having a shot that was going right down the keepers throat, only to be deflected over him by the same defender as the first half mix up. At 2-0 down with about 30 minutes to play usually would have seen a mass exodus from the away end, but everyone knew we weren't out of it. This was proved with 15 minutes left when we managed to get a goal back to make it 2-1. Scrappy though it was, it was even more deserved. Just 8 minutes later and the scores were level. The action didn't stop there as both sides nearly won it at the end, with City coming close after new signing Jamie Paterson hit the post with a rasping 20 yard drive that the 800-odd city fans were already celebrating. That was as close as it got and the final whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the home fans, and a mixture of cheers and disbelief from the away fans that their team, who had 75% possession and 35 shots, only managed to draw.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was very simple and easy. We avoided what I ca n imagine the usual flow of traffic as my son wanted his photo taken with a few city players after the game. Only 20 minutes later than we would have been but there was no traffic getting to the motorway.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great day out at a relatively new stadium that has its own feel to it. Concourse areas good and prices within the ground aren't too bad for a football ground.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

Being the opening weekend of the new season you're always hoping for a decent awayday to get the juices flowing for the campaign ahead. Rotherham fitted the bill perfectly....a new ground I'd yet to tick off, sensible ticket prices (yes Leeds & Wednesday, we're looking at you here) and within easy reach of the ale Mecca that is Sheffield. Additionally, the game was to be played at 3pm on a Saturday, a rare event across 2015/16 where Sky moved a huge number of Wolves matches for live coverage. With Sky's beloved Newcastle United now back in the Championship Wolves fans are expecting a lot less disruption to the fixture list, which makes things a whole lot easier when it comes to making travel arrangements for the weeks ahead. A sell-out 2,600 away following were making the trip complete with new Head Coach (the wanderlust-ridden Walter Zenga), new owners and even a new footballing innovation for 2016/17....an Icelandic superstar....to lead the attack.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground /car parking?

An easy enough trip up from London on the train for two of us, meeting our usual awayday travel companions from Wolverhampton in the excellent 'Sheffield Tap' pub at the namesake station for the first pint of the new season.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Arriving in Rotherham at about 12.45pm after a 15 minute journey on the local (archaic, two carriage) connecting train service from Sheffield (£3.50 return) we gave the 'Bridge' pub a swerve assuming there might be more intriguing drinking venues in the town centre to investigate. Our curiosity was rewarded with firstly a quick pint in a friendly-enough Wetherspoons (The Rhinoceros) which certainly didn't suffer from the curse of insufficient numbers of bar staff that the chain are often guilty of on matchdays elsewhere. Thirst quenched, we set off for somewhere with a bit more local flavour. This led us to 'The Cutlers Arms' on Westgate. This place ticked so many of our usual boxes that we were even prepared to forgive them what usually constitutes the cardinal sin of serving in plastic 'glasses'. Friendly people, excellent well-priced beers from the local Chantry brewery, good music and a spacious garden area to catch some of the traditional opening-day rays. We weren't in colours but I'm sure well-behaved supporters of all but the archest of rivals would be welcome here.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium was around 7 to 8 minutes walk from the Cutlers pub and a similar distance to Rotherham Railway Station. A steward provided directions to the away end and even added a (pretty sincere sounding) 'Good luck and enjoy the game'. A small point maybe, but appreciated all the same. In keeping with most new stadia, the area immediately surrounding the New York Stadium had nothing much to inspire or delay us so we headed into the ground for about 2.45pm.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Concourse space was limited so it was a question of a quick visit to the Gents and then out to the seats. A personal quirk perhaps, but I've never really understand the compulsion of many to eat and/or drink inside a football ground. The game turned out to be an interesting baptism of fire for Zenga. 2-0 down after 20 odd minutes it looked to be question of how many goals the home team would rack up, but perhaps the summer break had led to some of us forgetting football's unerring ability to surprise when we least expect it. Wolves scored late in the first half to make it 2-1 at half time, then came out revitalised in the second half (despite the ludicrously unjust dismissal of our young fullback Iorfa) and eventually managed midway through the half to equalise to finish the game with a spirited 2-2 draw. The home supporters were muted throughout, perhaps due to the tactical frailties and vulnerability that their heroes displayed in unravelling despite their commanding early lead. History certainly suggests that managers that have fared well in Scottish football aren't always suitably equipped to continue those successes south of the border but I hope Alan Stubbs does a decent job for Rotherham. It might just be down to whether he can resist the temptation to do a 'Gordon Strachan' and fill his new squad up with players who looked like worldbeaters in Scotland but are then found wanting when it comes to the greater demands of Championship football. As ever for the opening away day with Wolves, most in our end were boisterous and well-refreshed, but there was no indication of the undercurrent of malice that can sometimes permeate such occasions. Bonus point to the Rotherham DJ for playing 'Eton Rifles' in its' majestic entirety at half time!

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

No problem getting away. A ten minute walk back to Rotherham Station and then a stop off in Sheffield for a swift-ish couple in a trusty old haunt ('The Rutland Arms') before getting the 7.30pm train back to London.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Thoroughly enjoyable. A hard-earned point for the new Wolverhampton regime and another ground ticked off for me having done Millmoor a decade or so earlier. It's a decent albeit in all honesty forgettable stadium, but the salvation for fans visiting Rotherham would lie in the decency and hospitality shown by the home fans and local pubs, the proximity of stadium to station/town centre and the opportunity offered of a refreshment break in Sheffield, undoubtedly one of the finest ale cities in the country.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I did the 92 way back in 1994. But still have a few grounds left to complete the modern set - I saw Rotherham United at both Millmoor and the Don Valley Stadium, so was looking forward to visiting the New York Stadium.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Very easy. We travelled from the Coventry area up the M1 and parked at Meadowhall. It is ideal for any game in the Sheffield area as you can park for free all day and there are plenty of places to eat. From there it was a train journey of a few minutes to Rotherham Central, from where the ground is easily visible a short walk away.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We didn't pass any pubs on the way. It was interesting to see vendors selling beer outside the stadium but the queues were long and the service slow . Inside they were selling John Smiths at a reasonable-ish £3.70 a pint.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

The New York Stadium looks very modern, in stark contrast to Millmoor which still appears to be standing on the other side of the railway track. It is a modern ground, but slightly more interesting than the majority of cookie-cutter designs. We booked tickets online and took the print at home option, which worked well but doesn't give you much of a souvenir. The away end looked very good and was full of the travelling Wolves support. We had very good seats in the Main Stand, row D. I doubt that the roof would offer much shelter in the rain, but that didn't matter on a hot summers day.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

One negative point is that the access to the stand is quite cramped, with only one person at a time able to turn left or right at the end of the tunnel that takes you to the seats. I thought that the concourse was large enough to avoid a half-time crush. However, the beer queue was allowed to grow to the point where it blocked access to the toilets. The game was as entertaining as you could wish for as a neutral. A nearly full stadium, the home side going 2-0 up. And then Wolves coming back to draw with 10 men.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

On leaving the ground you realise that it has been shoehorned into a tight space with restricted access. Because the whole crowd has to leave through just one road entrance. There was no actual problem today with a good natured crowd. But it is a logistical problem that could hamper any plans to expand the current capacity. In a few minutes we were back at the station where a train was waiting to take us back to Meadowhall.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A good day out. The New York Stadium is a pleasant modern venue. And as a Southampton supporter it was nice to visit Rotherham and not lose!

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I'm a QPR supporter from Teesside, so this was like a home fixture for me. I also look forward to visiting new stadiums and this was my first visit to Rotherham.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled by train from Darlington via Doncaster to Rotherham Central, which gives easy access to ground, a brisk 10 minute walk.

New York Stadium As Viewed From Rotherham Central Station

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I met up with a Rotherham supporting friend and enjoyed a couple of pints of Iron & Steel bitter, a tasty local brew at the Cutlers Arms on Westgate. Very friendly atmosphere and banter with both sets of supporters, supplemented by excellent bar staff and wide choice of local beers. A proper pub, highly recommend it to any visiting supporters. Five minutes walk from the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the AESEAL New York Stadium?

Excellent unobstructed views from the away end and plenty of leg room, easy access to seats from concourse. A very tidy stadium and appropriate size for Rotherham United's loyal fan base.

View From The Away End

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

A game very distinctly of two halves, Rotherham dominated possession and goal threat during first half , but failed to capitalise as Rangers desperately defended. QPR turned the game on its head in second half by being more direct. Two goals in three minutes swung the balance as Rotherham reeled, a third goal at the death sealed victory for QPR, leaving Rotherham to rue their failure to take chances earlier in game. Stewards very friendly and accommodating as you'd expect from Yorkshire folk.

View Of The Main Stand

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

No bother getting away from stadium and arrived back at railway station within 12 minutes.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I enjoyed the whole afternoon in Rotherham a very pleasant place, a nice day, friendly folk, great banter and real ale in a warm atmospheric pub. I'll look forward to returning again at some future date.

Why were you looking forward to visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

I always enjoy visiting a ground for the first time.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Used a small car park on Westgate, £1.80 for all day parking.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Went into the New York Tavern as recommended by a previous reviewer, fantastic real ale at good prices, £3.50 for a pint and a half of New York Pale from the local Chantry Brewery . Staff and home fans were friendly and welcoming. We then moved up the road to a Wetherspoons pub and wished we hadn't, it was absolutely rammed and took ages to get served!

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

What a great little ground, fantastic uncluttered views to the pitch and a lovely vista of the surrounding Rotherham sky line!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Brilliant win for QPR, home fans could've been a bit more vocal to ramp up the atmosphere a bit but the away fans kept it noisy throughout. Small food facilities are sufficient and well staffed, plentiful toilets no long queues waiting to take a leak! The outside of ground Stewards were only too pleased to give us correct directions towards the visiting supporters turnstiles.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We had a 15 minute walk back to our car and was on the motorway in no time at all.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall the wife and I had a pleasing afternoon, we only had to travel from Hull so not a long journey, the pubs and people were we met were very friendly (as it should be), a great win for QPR, I'll look forward to QPR's next visit to Rotherham because I'll definitely be there!

Why were you looking forward to visiting the AESSEAL New York Stadium?

It was another ground to be ticked off, on our quest to do the 92, and I was hoping upon hope to bump into the Chuckle Brothers, who are honorary presidents of the club!

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We left Manchester and drove across the scenic Woodhead's Pass into South Yorkshire.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We parked up at our hotel and had a quick drink in the pub which was adjoined to the hotel. We then got a taxi to The Corn Law Rhymer pub, which is just a 2-3 minute walk from the ground. The pub was very busy and there was a good mixture of home and away fans

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the New York Stadium?

From the outside it looked like a massive warehouse, but once we were inside, it was quite a nice stadium with lots of leg room. The away end was busy and the QPR fans looked as id they were a handful for the stewards.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

This was a game of two halves. Rotherham dominated both possession and chances in the first half, with some chances either being wasted or saved. In the second half, however, QPR put the Millers to the sword, with two goals in three minutes from David Holliett and Matt Phillips, who ran around like a man possessed. Rotherham attempted to claw their way back into the game, but to no avail, and lived to regret those chances when the Rangers scored a third strike with the last kick of the game. The steak and kidney pies, though, were simply exquisite. We had two, and my dad mentioned going back for a third!

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We left a couple of minutes before full-time, and made our way back up Westgate. We had planned to pop back to the Corn Law Rhymer pub, but as luck would have it, there was a row of taxis coming up the hill. Fortunately, my dad managed to get one, and we headed back to the hotel.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Although it was a disappointing result, and the weather was baltic blue, I rather enjoyed a new experience at Rotherham - my 26th football ground. One more ticked off the list, and I'm certainly looking forward to number 27!

Rotherham United v Norwich City
League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 25th August 2015, 7.45pm
David Atkins (Norwich City fan)

Why were you looking forward to going to the New York Stadium?

I had not been to the new ground and was interested to see how it might compare with Millmoor and to what extent it was an identikit ground. Also, it's relatively near to where we live in Leeds and Norwich were also on good form.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Travelling from Leeds and picking up in Wakefield the journey was easy. Down the M1, off at junction 34, into Rotherham on the A 6178, then easy parking behind the New York Tavern.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Time for a couple of pints in the New York Tavern. Home fans were very friendly, especially the landlord and their beer from the local Chantry brewery was excellent.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

First impressions of the New York Stadium were that it obviously looked modern and a bit similar to Doncaster's. It's good that it's near the centre of town and not stuck on some out of town retail park. Inside it's neat and compact, built for purpose. The away section offers good views from behind the goal and the concourse was reasonably spacious (we had about 1,000 fans there on the night). The rest of the ground was only about half full but looked smart.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

We expected to win, despite fielding a number of squad players but Rotherham gave us quite a game of it and we had our stand in keeper to thank for keeping us ahead. Our yellow army kept up a good barrage of noise and were particularly delighted when Ricky Van Wolfswinkel scored only his second goal for the club. The half timer Bovril was standard fayre.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was easy until we met closed slip roads on the M1.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

An enjoyable evening, thanks to the 2-1 win, including two well taken goals and the friendliness of the Rotherham fans.

The New York Stadium looked a nice one, and one I had never visited before. But more importantly, it was the first game of the new season and MK Dons' first in the Championship League, so it was an historic game for the club.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled to the ground by club coach, just a minor traffic jam just as we entered Yorkshire. I think the ground would have been hard to find if I had driven as we seemed to have a long winded journey through Rotherham.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Around the stadium, the home fans seemed quite a friendly bunch and it had a nice feel to the place. Plus for a change we had no 'Franchise' abuse directed at us, which we have had at some other grounds. We decided to head straight into the stadium rather than going for a wander around the nearby town centre.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

This New York Stadium looked very nice from the outside, ignoring the fact there is a rusty old derelict building and derelict yard to one side. But overall the stadium looked very good. However when you get inside into the actual seating area, the ground looks much smaller than it does from the outside, but it still looks decent.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

We didn't know what to expect going into the game as it was our first game in the Championship. Still we made a great start going 1-0 up in under 10 minutes only for Rotherham to equalise soon after. The home side then dominated for another good 20 minutes, and they could of scored 3-4, including missing an open goal. But to all of our surprise we ended up leading 3-1 at half time, largely thanks to their poor goalkeeper. We looked by far the better team in the second half and managed another goal to get a fantastic 4-1 win. The stewards seemed quite friendly and the facilities were average.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Many of their fans had left before the final whistle so it was an easy walk back to the coaches after a very good win, we got a few dirty looks from Rotherham fans this time though!

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A very good day out, a nice enough stadium and a very good result for the Dons!

Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?

It was a stadium I had not visited before and from photos that I had seen, it looked impressive. Plus Derby were on a good run of form, so I decided to go.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled from my home in Stoke and it took longer than expected due to rush hour traffic and roadworks on the M1. But once we left the M1 to follow the road into Rotherham. finding the stadium was fairly easy. I parked at an old tesco car park for free, which was only about five minutes walk from the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Myself and my daughter wandered into the town centre where we enjoyed a kebab and chips. Even though we were wearing our club colours we felt perfectly safe mixing with the home away fans.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

From the outside it looked awsome, all lit up against the night sky, especially the New York Stadium sign. Inside it seemed small and basic but pleasant and clean. The stands seemed quite steep but we were on the front row and still a good view, as we were sitting above above pitch level.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was was an excellent encounter. Rotherham took a deserved 2-0 then a 3-1 lead. But in the final 30 minutes of the game, Derby just seem to click into gear and got it back to 3-3. Derby then looked as if they would go on and win it but Rotherham held on for the draw. The atmosphere inside the stadium from both sets of fans was good. Stewards were friendly and helpful although we were not allowed to hang a flag as it was over 3' x 5' and didnt have a fire certificate. Which seemed strange as we were next to the fire buckets! But they explained why and were pleasant about it

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We had no real problems leaving the ground and returned to the car still mingling with the home fans. We had some difficulty in getting back onto the M1 but this was purely down to roadworks and the slip road being closed with poor diversion signs. but once on it we were home back in Stoke in under an hour.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

We had a brilliant evening out. It was an excellent entertaining game and I really enjoyed my visit. I would love to return at a future date.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I didn't get the opportunity to visit the New York Stadium for our FA Cup meeting a fortnight earlier, and this was a new ground for me. I'd heard good things from fellow Bournemouth fans about their experiences and so was very much looking forward to my visit

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I am an exiled Bournemouth fan living in Milton Keynes, so it was a pretty straight forward journey up the M1. But when will they ever finish those roadworks! I had decided to park in the Rotherham Interchange multi-storey and found it very easily. It proved to be a good location for my choice of pub.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

The Bournemouth Exiles group had arranged to meet at the Bridge Inn, having had an excellent experience there just two weeks before. The pub is about a 4-5 minute walk from the Interchange, while it's just across the road from the railway station (turn right on exit). It was a pleasure to drink in the company of home fans, enjoying some good football conversation. The pub serves quality real ale and the staff worked the bar very well. Simple food was on offer - hot dogs and burgers in a napkin - no plates or knives and forks here! There is also a plethora of football scarves pinned to the walls with clubs of most divisions (and it seemed nationalities) represented. The biggest compliment I can pay to the pub is that next time I am in Rotherham for the football, this is where I will come. It's about a 10 minute walk to the stadium from here.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground looks great - I'm not a big fan of the newer stadiums, but this is done really well. From the outside, it looks bigger than the 12,000 capacity.

I always felt Bournemouth were comfortable during the game and was confident of a victory. A 2-0 win transpired, and as much I would love Rotherham to stay up (they had some great fans and it was a good day out) I fear for them this season. The atmosphere was not great with an attendance of just over 9,000 and the home fans concerned at their teams lack of attacking threat (apart from one or two opportunities created in the first half). Their ire was directed at the referee and his officials, not surprising when you consider the linesman gave an offside directly from a throw-in!

I enjoyed a Chicken Balti pie, albeit it was still repeating on me in the car all the way back down the M1 after the game - much to the despair of my 14 year old son in the passenger seat! The stewards were friendly and helpful, offering a cheery 'goodbye and safe journey home' at the end of the game. Stewards at places like Norwich and Ipswich could learn a lot from these guys.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

A brisk 15 minute walk back to the Interchange, and on exit from the car park an immediate turn right on to a dual carriageway meant that we were back on the M1 in no time at all.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A fantastic day all round - great pub, great home fans, lovely stadium and Bournemouth still top of the Championship - who'd have thought!

I The old and new faces of Rotherham were on display as we approached the town centre on the A630 from the M1. To the left stood Millmoor, former home of the local football club, its stands and floodlights still intact, but looking forlorn and dilapidated. To the right, however, lay the shiny New York Stadium, opened in 2012, and already regarded as the most prominent symbol of the regeneration of club and town alike.

That process, at least as far as the latter is concerned, is clearly still some distance from completion, given the swathes of derelict land in the vicinity of the new venue. We parked in the grounds of a former night club (for a cost of £2) before passing the site of the disused, long-vacated Guest and Chrimes foundry. Many of the distinctive fire hydrants that can be seen in US films and TV shows were originally made here, hence the nickname “New York” which locals applied to the area and after which the new stadium is named.

Having purchased our match tickets, we sought refreshment in a local hostelry, and discovered the Cutlers Arms in Westgate (turn right from Main Street), a most welcoming and hospitable tavern.
It sold beers from the local Chantry’s brewery at £2.50/pint and the two products sampled (Tony’s Tipple and Steelos, both pale ales) were thoroughly enjoyed by all of our party of four. The beer garden, which doubles as an outdoor gig venue, proved popular with Foxes and locals alike, and the pub is certain to become a much-welcome addition to this season’s Championship drinking circuit.

The route back to the stadium was enlivened by a cheeseburger (price £2.50, onions included) from a van parked across the road from the police station, and a chat with a local man preparing for an evening of fishing rather than football. He assured all and sundry that fish (perch in particular) were readily available from the river, so presumably pollution levels are much reduced from the area’s industrial heyday.

We finally took our seats in the upper reaches of the away end as the game kicked off. The stadium is one of the more distinctive of the modern generation, with sloping roofs and steep banking. Although the latter can prove a test for ageing limbs, it also enabled an excellent view of the action, as well as the spires of a surprising number of churches which are still in existence within central Rotherham.

The toilets and catering facilities are a substantial improvement on those previously on offer to away supporters at Millmoor. Sadly, Rotherham, like so many other modern football clubs (Leicester included) have succumbed to the temptation of fleecing captive audiences, with many prices for food and drink up to 40p higher than those apparently being charged last season.

All that remained was for City to deliver a performance befitting their newly-acquired Premier League status, and the team duly obliged during a 3-1 victory against spirited hosts.

The crowd of below 4,000 was rather less than it could have been, but at least this minimised potential post-match traffic congestion. We were back on the motorway within 15 minutes of the final whistle and despite extensive roadworks extending through much of the Derbyshire section, back in Leicestershire within the hour.

While New York may not have the glamour of captivating qualities of its more famous namesake, it provides a welcoming and enjoyable experience which many discerning away fans will treasure during the coming season.

Rotherham United v Bristol City
League One
Saturday, March 29th, 2014, 3pm
Adam Chard (Bristol City fan)

I was unexpectedly presented with the prospect of a rare away trip to Rotherham to see my team Bristol City. I’ve managed to see City play at least once every season since 1987, so I gleefully grabbed the opportunity to make the 80 mile trip to South Yorkshire from my East Yorkshire home. Plus it would be the 43rd stadium ticked off my list!

The car journey was straightforward. In fact, once I drove into the town, I was mightily impressed just how easy it was getting from A to B in Rotherham.

I wanted to keep my car on the south side of the stadium and on the map things looked very simple. There appeared to be plenty of residential streets and I could cross the River Don south of the stadium. However on closer inspection (and no one seems to mention this!) the bridge to the south of the stadium is for vehicles only and the next bridge is quite a way to the north.

I found a decent looking residential street with plenty of spaces. After a careful check I was confident there were no parking restrictions (I got a parking ticket at Preston North End because I didn’t check this out thoroughly!). This left me with a very pleasant walk down the hill with the stadium gleaming in the sunlight below.

The weather was lovely as I turned off Main Street onto the riverside walk. The stadium does look much bigger from the outside than its 12,000 capacity would suggest.

The turnstiles are all equipped with bar code scanners, so my ticket had to be purchased from an office before entering. Once inside, there was a large screen showing the Man Utd v Aston Villa match and a couple of refreshment stalls, the furthest of which was deserted.

The toilets were decent enough and a poster had been put up thanking the fans for travelling! Nice touch!

The away stand is much steeper than many stands I have been in around the country, meaning a really good view and no issues with seeing over the top of people.

View From The Away Stand

I didn’t have any great expectations, as Rotherham were pushing for promotion and we were just glad to be clear of any relegation threat. However, with our improved form I was hoping we’d give them a good game.

City couldn’t have got off to a worse start. Backing off and backing off, they allowed Rotherham’s Tavernier plenty of sight of goal before he unleashed an unstoppable shot. All with barely one minute on the clock. For the rest of the first half City looked poor and our first effort on goal came in the 30th. Rotherham looked comfortable but rarely threatening.

City came out much stronger in the second half, attacking the goal in front of our end. Around the 50th minute mark, City equalised with an absolute screamer from Wade Elliott. The City fans were now in fine voice and from this point it seemed we would at least get a point out of the game.

However, there was to be cruel twist of fate. Fielding took a routine goal kick from his hands. As the ball was sailing over the halfway line, we all heard a whistle and saw the Linesmen flagging furiously. It soon became apparent Fielding had been penalised for handball, for carrying the ball out of his penalty area! (Although later TV replays seemed to show that he hadn’t). Rotherham were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area and Tavernier powered his shot into the top right corner with apparent ease.

From then on Rotherham proceeded to shut out the game and it finally ended 2-1 to the home side. Disappointing, but we all clapped the City lads off after a much better second half performance.

I was forced to walk the opposite direction to my car due to segregation at the end of the match, but it was fairly simple to get back out onto Main Street from New York Way. Main Street was actually closed off to allow people to walk in the road. The walk back up the hill left me huffing and puffing a bit, but I was able to get out of Rotherham with ease.

So all in all a very enjoyable away trip, despite the result. The New York Stadium is a quality ground, with great facilities and all went smoothly. The new ground has obviously benefited the town greatly and just goes to prove what a difference this can make to a club.

Rotherham United v Swindon Town
League One
Saturday, October 12th, 2013, 3pm
Ashley Morris (Swindon Town fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground:

Me, my partner and little one were looking forward to going to the New York Stadium as it has been newly built and an away ground we had not yet been to.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We travelled up on the Friday and stayed the weekend in Sheffield but have to say the M1 was a nightmare all weekend. Getting to the Ground was easy enough as we had the sat nav but was well signposted in any case and found great car parking in a disused nightclub (Liquid) car park for £3 that was only a few minutes walk to the ground which was great as we had the little one and the weather wasn't great.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We arrived at the ground about half one and had a quick walk around the Stadium but due to the weather we decided to go and get our seats and a cup of tea.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

I have to say the Stadium looks impressive and is a credit to Rotherham United FC as some of the new grounds look soulless. Once inside we walked down the concourse which was long and very clean there with two TV's at either end showing the early kick off of Plymouth VS Portsmouth and got our seats. We sat right at the back in the corner of the stand and had a brilliant view of the game.

Once we had got to our seats I decided to go and get us a cup of tea from the concourse which costs £2 each I didn't buy any food but noticed they sold burgers + pies including the chicken balti pie for £3. The stewards were very friendly and helpful and even had a programme seller in the concourse.

The game itself was very slow for us to get started as Rotherham dominated the first 20 minutes and should really have been two or three nil up with Revell, Pringle and Mills all going close but we started getting into the game and struck in the 33rd min with MOTM Alex Pritchard scoring a sweet free kick. After the goal it was just one way traffic with us capitalising on the stroke of half time to go in 2 nil up through Luongos deflected shot. I thought Rotherham would come out more fired up after half time but it never materialised and we controlled the whole 2nd half scoring another 2 goals through Ajose and N'Guessan and could of added a few more with some of the best football I've seen us play in years with several bouts of 'Ole! Ole!' coming from our 540 fans who were obviously in great spirits as we ran out 4-0 winners and ended our woeful away form. I have to say that the home fans were very quiet all game and never really gave their team any support and a lot left after the third goal went in which didn't help the team.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We left about 5 mins after the game finished and it was a quick walk back to the car. There was a road closed outside the ground which looks like they do on match days so the traffic wasn't to bad and due to the fact that a lot of home fans had left before the full time whistle we was back on the road and to the hotel in no time.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was a great away day for us and would recommend to any football fan. The New York Stadium is a very tidy and smart looking ground and would go again.

Rotherham United v Preston North End
League One
Saturday, August 10th, 2013, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)

South Yorkshire has seen some drastic changes to its scenery and landscape since the 1980s; nowhere more dramatic than the Rotherham area. The huge railway marshalling yards at Wath-on-Dearne to the north, and Tinsley just the other side of the M1 at Junction 34 have both been swept away; much of the heavy industry has dwindled away typified by the Manvers coking plant to the south. But in the middle of all this, Rotherham United continue to ply their trade predominantly in the third tier of English league football.

In fact contrary to the trend of clubs moving out of town, Rotherham have contrived to move closer to their town centre with a new ground which looked appealing from the pictures I had seen prior to my journey there. Hence I left my home in Kent with my daughter that morning not only with a sense of anticipation about seeing the new ground, but also the buzz of what was to be our first match of the season after the wilderness of the months without football. These very early fixtures always have been an excitement; who cannot fail to be full of hope and expectation when its the start of the season?

Shortly after burrowing under the Thames estuary via the Dartford crossing, we left the M25 at the Junction with the A12 to meet up with some colleagues from work who jumped in our car and it became incumbent upon me to rejoin that beloved institution of numerous traffic and travel radio bulletins, the M25, and follow it till we swept north onto the M1. To be frank, ploughing up that motorway seemed hard work with countless motorists seemingly intent on sitting in the middle and outside lanes at 60mph going no faster than cars to their nearside despite an open road ahead of them. Hence I was quite glad to leave the motorway at Junction 33 and follow the signs for Rotherham.

Its almost impossible not to find the ground following the A630; the new "New York" stadium sitting to your right as the floodlights of the old Millmoor ground stand forlornly on the opposite side of the road. Almost out of instinct I immediately turned left at the next roundabout and at the entrance to Millmoor I spied that secure parking was being advertised for £3 which seemed ideal and reasonable and again on instinct without further thought I swung in, paid the £3 and parked up.

I was very content as we had arrived in perfect time to gain early access to the New York Stadium, which when one is mindful of a youngster on board is crucial in the event of sourcing alternative seating to be able to view the match should such a need arise. Hence we could get out and stretch legs and munch on packed lunch bits and pieces for a while before locking up the car and wandering down the to the new stadium.

First impressions didn't disappoint; whilst negotiating the pedestrian subway under the A630 we "disturbed" a couple of East European chaps conducting a hasty drugs deal so be wary!

Once safely clear of the subway we headed towards the quite striking "New York" stadium which I found quite appealing to the eye and quite distinctive which indicates that quite a lot of thought went into the design of the ground. The stewards outside the ground were extremely friendly and helpful in directing us to the away turnstiles.

The turnstiles themselves are state-of-the-art bar-code scanning types, and once inside we accessed the seating area and found it to be quite steep which I find ideal as even if relatively tall people come and sit in front of us, my daughter can still see the match. Even more ideal though were the seats at the very top of the aisles which for once were not marked with "reserved for stewards/stewards only" so without further ado I plonked my daughter on one of those seats and the rest of our group sat on either side of her.

With the ground still relatively empty, it afforded a good view of the interior of this smart little stadium; the two floodlight pylons that "lean" into and over the ground from the smaller of the pitch side stands were reminiscent of the then futuristic floodlight arrangement at Swansea City's old Vetch Field ground when they rebuilt the East Stand if any-one recalls?

The atmosphere soon built up as more travelling support arrived, and soon there was a real boisterous party mood in the away end as the Preston supporters revelled in the fact that earlier in the week we had disposed of our most bitter and despised rivals Blackpool in the league cup. Whether the stewarding and policing is normally so relaxed I obviously couldn't comment as I suspect the authorities under-estimated the numbers that they may have needed; in the event they made little effort to stop the smoke grenades being continually detonated as song after song of an anti-Blackpool nature was belted out. Equally it must be said that on the odd occasion that stewards did pay us a visit, the supporters who had foolishly smuggled tins of alcohol into the ground surrendered them without fuss once they were spotted.

The home supporters didn't really seem to find a voice until well into the second half, by which time one sensed that a
0-0 scoreline was almost inevitable but that shouldn't detract from what was a cracking match with plenty of good passing football and build-up play on a good quality pitch. From a Preston perspective, the only thing lacking was better quality delivery into the box, but how encouraging it was after some 4 seasons of downward spiral to see an assured, composed, well organised defence and midfield.

Overall a draw was a fair result though, and as good a 0-0 match as I've seen for many a year, and it made a change to see a Preston performance to be really encouraged with. Hence when the final whistle sounded I was truly content and satisfied with the entertainment.

As we ourselves had no urge to rush south, we let the vast majority of supporter leave before heading for the exits, and it gave another chance to survey this tidy and impressive little ground. A capacity of 12,000 is probably just right; the attendance that afternoon was a little under 9,000, and it felt like a fairly full ground which is a much warmer feeling than a similar crowd in say a 25,000 capacity ground where one feels like one is waving a broomstick round in a dustbin, or belching loudly in an empty cathedral.

On the subject of Cathedrals, the matchday programme (£3) is worthy of mention; one of the more interesting I've enjoyed for a long time, full of interesting facts about both Rotherham and Preston that I didn't know; i.e. that the spire on St Walburge's church in Preston is the tallest in England on a church not designated a cathedral.......

Once we sauntered back to Millmoor, we took the chance to explore the old ground from the outside instead of joining a queue of traffic. Surrounded on 3 sides by the scrapyard of its owner CF Booths of Rotherham, it did seem kind of sad ; from one point behind the partially completed new stand, the pitch could be seen and it seemed well tended and cared for. Hence we struck up a conversation with the men on the gate who were employees of the same scrap metal merchant, and enquired who or what was using the ground now; they told us that nobody uses it anymore at all; the old groundsman still turns up twice a week out of love for the old place and does what he can to look after the pitch.

Millmoor - Still being cared for...

Poor old Millmoor; the pitch looks like its desperate to be used again, the floodlights look down yearning to illuminate the hard men of Rotherham once more, and the old stands and terraces would love to host the good burghers of the town as they watch their team play; but sadly that will never happen. Maybe another sports club may be glad to make use of the ground. It did stir some emotions to peer in and see the old railway end where in years gone by I both stood and sat to cheer on Preston NE.

After the nostalgia of wallowing in Millmoor, we settled down to the journey home, abandoning the M1 in favour of the A57 then the A1 and had a very pleasant run home, very encouraged after 90 minutes of good football. Full marks to Rotherham for building themselves a cracking new little stadium.

Rotherham United v Aldershot Town
League Two
Saturday, April 27th, 2013, 3pm
Samuel Walker (Neutral fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Leicester's unusually (and frustratingly) high number of games picked for Sky Television meant another Friday night fixture for the Foxes, and due to school commitments I was unable to go. To make up for it, dad offered to take me to Rotherham for their final home game against Aldershot. Rotherham were all but promoted, and Aldershot all but relegated, but there was still everything to play for.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Living in Norwich, we went by train. I met dad at Peterborough and we took the train to Rotherham, via a change at Doncaster. We arrived in Rotherham at around 12:30, in the middle of the pouring rain.

3. What you did before the game? Pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We had lunch at a small café in the middle of Rotherham market, and after a quick look around the town (aided in part by the driving rain) we set off for the ground. After asking for directions to the ground we found it relatively easy.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

I'm usually a bit sceptical about new grounds, having been to many myself in the past few years I have noticed not too much difference between them. However the New York Stadium stood out from the rest and due to the high stands it certainly looked bigger than its 12,000 capacity. One of the main striking features was its descending roof, by descending in steps rather than the traditional curve.

The game itself was a cracker. The writing was already on the wall for Aldershot Town, but to their credit, the 300-odd fans who'd travelled from Hampshire got behind their team right to the very end. Rotherham made a flying start and could have gone ahead within three minutes, but the first half remained goalless. The second half started much the same as the first, and Rotherham got the goal they'd been waiting for on 64 minutes, after Shots keeper Jamie Young dropped a free-kick straight into the path of Johnny Mullins, to send the sell-out crowd into raptures. Aldershot to their credit carried on to the end and almost got an unlikely equaliser in the 90th minute, but Rotherham managed to clear their lines in time. From the resulting goal-kick, Lee Frecklington broke free to lob his shot over Jamie Young, prompting a pitch invasion from all sides. A second pitch invasion occurred after the final whistle, though the players did eventually return for a lap of honour.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We left the ground at around 5:25 to get the train back to Peterborough (and finding ourselves sharing a carriage from Doncaster to Peterborough with some very happy, noisy and a little tipsy Brighton fans who had been at Leeds were celebrating getting into the playoffs). We arrived at Peterborough just in time for the Norwich train, and arrived back shortly after nine o'clock.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A very enjoyable and worthwhile afternoon. One particularly pleasing sight was Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart making an announcement over the PA system before the match, and the fans chanting "There's only one Tony Stewart" constantly throughout the match. After hearing about a pitch invasion at Wolves the same day in protest over their chairman's running of the club, to see a chairman so vocally appreciated was a refreshing sight, and after five years exiled in Sheffield, Rotherham truly have a place they can now call home.

Rotherham United v Fleetwood Town
League Two
Saturday, April 13th, 2013, 3pm
Matthew Bowling (Fleetwood Town fan)

1. Why were you looking forward to going to the ground?

I was looking forward because it's a new stadium, and it's a football ground that I haven't been to before.

2. How easy was the journey/finding ground/car parking?

The ground was easy to find we just stuck with the M62/M60, a very nice run through the hills as you hit the Yorkshire Dales, it was actually quite quiet for it being a Saturday afternoon. The ground is easy to find as you follow the route to the old ground and the new stadium soon appears, you can't really miss it. We bought a car parking permit for the stadium which we booked in advance, so no worries there.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy...... home fans friendly?

We arrived at the stadium and went straight into the ground and just checked out the away stand facilities which good.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end than other sides of the ground?

The ground does look very impressive from outside and that continues inside, with circular floodlights, very good leg room, good views from every seat. The steps are quite steep so if you are at the top you need to watch your step. The ground is similar on all 4 sides and this generated an okay atmosphere and quite a bit of noise from the stands.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities:

The atmosphere seemed to mostly coming from our small number of travelling fans. The attendance was 7,360, the home fans didn't make much atmosphere which was disappointing. Rotherham took the lead after 3 minutes when our keeper made a poor clearance straight to a Rotherham forward, who probably couldn't believe his luck and the ball ended up in the bottom corner. Their lead was short lived, when we equalised after a scramble in the box the ball fell to David Ball who shot the ball in the corner. The stewards seemed friendly and didn't tell us to sit down during the game. There was only pies on the food menu and the people who I asked who had them said they were okay but not great. Even though there was only one catering facility in the stand, it wasn't a problem as we only had around 300 fans in attendance. The facilities were alright with two toilet blocks in the in the stand which were more than adequate. In the second half Rotherham started to improve iand took the lead again through Kieran Agard, after some poor defending by Fleetwood. Unfortunately Fleetwood couldn't mount a comeback an the game ended 2-1 to the home side.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We had to wait for about 10/15 minutes in the car park because the police made sure that all the fans had gone away to the main road before they let us out, when we eventually got out the journey back was no problem at all, similar to the journey there.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Good day out overall, a very impressive stadium. Although more of an atmosphere would have been better. Annoyed that we lost because that ended our play-off hopes for good. However, I would recommend anyone to go to the stadium and I would personally visit again.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was really looking forward to visiting the New York Stadium for a variety of reasons. Primarily because it was a new ground to visit. Secondly many Rotherham supporters had been bigging up how good it was before the game, even dome had claimed in the press that it is a mini Emirates stadium! Thirdly to see if the extra £8 million they spent on building it compared to our £13 million total cost was worth it. Fourthly because they are local rivals and the result was fairly crucial to both teams respective promotion ambitions and finally because it simply had to be better than the Don Valley Stadium......which was a truly awful place to watch a match!

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey took all of 25 minutes by car as the M1 was fairly empty and we got there pretty early to avoid the pre-match traffic and have a couple of pints. We initially tried to park on the road near the old Millmoor where we always used to park but found that was now coned off, so parked on the other side of the dual carriageway near to the ground for £4 in a industrial/factory unit car park. We chose that rather than a much larger car park next to it which cost £3 as that looked like it would be a nightmare to get out of and the one we were in led straight onto the dual carriageway for a quick post match escape!

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We walked up into the town centre and by-passed a couple of pubs which contained assorted Stone Island and Burberry clad locals playing 'spot the Spireite' and went into a Wetherspoons on the High Street called the Corn Law Rhymer. It was absolutely packed with Rotherham fans, which given that the match was going to be very well attended was no surprise. As there has been a history of trouble between us and given tensions were running high we kept ourselves to ourselves and quietly enjoyed a couple of decent cheap pints of Ruddles! Whilst listening to various songs about where they wanted to shove our crooked spire…..which amused me no end! I wouldn’t describe it as a friendly atmosphere but it wasn’t that hostile either and we had a good chat to some Rotherham fans on the walk down to the ground, shook hands, wished each other luck (though not that much) and went our respective ways which was nice.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground looks very impressive from the outside and looks much bigger than it’s 12,000 or so capacity. This is primarily due to the very, very steep rake of the steps, which I guess someone (through age or alcohol) will probably end up falling down one day. I heard one elderly Spireite clambering up them complaining of altitude sickness and he was only half joking. That said, the seats, leg room and view from the away end are excellent, but just to emphasise how unecessary it is to have a rise of 2 steps between each row the bloke sat in front of me stood up and I could just about still see the match whilst still sitting down!

We sold our allocation of 2,500 and I spotted a few Spireite’s I knew sat quietly in the home stand nearest us. They had left the seats in both corners next to the away end empty as a buffer zone, which makes me question the wisdom of ’bowl’ type stadiums as its costs millions to fill corner’s with seats that are invariably going to be empty due to segregation!

The Chesterfield supporters present were in very good voice throughout and created a good atmosphere but I didn’t hear much noise from the home fans, which may have been because I was sat near the Spireite choir or maybe because their vocal element haven’t decided where to congregate in the new ground. Either way it was surprising as Chesterfield were woeful from start to finish and it pains me to say Rotherham deserved 1-0 the win, which effectively puts paid to our promotion hopes!

The concourse under the stands was quite tight considering the grounds large footprint and probably badly designed, as there appeared to be more room in the toilets than outside! The pie and pint were fine…usual football fayre but nothing special but the queuss for them were horrendous.

The stewards were very good in the main, polite and particularly sensible when the Chesterfield fans behind the goal started playing up as they wanted to stand rather than sit. The stewards quickly let them move into the segregated area in the corner and let them stand and sing which made a refreshing change. The most amusing bit on the day for me happened when a steward told my mate he couldn’t smoke in the ground….he duly pointed out it was an electric ‘fake’ fag as he’s trying to quit, but the steward still insisted that it was illegal! Not sure who was right but the five minute debate was a cracker!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Given that Chesterfield’s performance was abysmal and the prospect of being stuck in the 11,300 crowd trying to get out didn’t fill my heart with joy so we decided to leg it a couple of minutes before the final whistle and getting away was no problem for us. That said there was a very heavy police presence and the two sets of supporters were well segregated until they hit the main road.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A day to forget for any Spireite and I’m sure the Rotherham fans enjoyed their moment of glory, which will never surpass the 5-0 spanking we gave them on their first visit to our new ground!

Is the stadium worth £21 million………No it isn’t!

They could and should have got at least a 15,000 capacity for that money.

Is it a stadium they can be proud of and is it a hundred times better that Millmoor or The Don Valley…of course it is!

I look forward to my next visit……I just hope the Chesterfield team decide to turn up next time!

Rotherham United v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Saturday October 27th 2012, 3pm
James Prentice (Doing the 92)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Other than the chance to tick off another ground as part of my ongoing quest to ‘do the 92’, I was interested to see whether Rotherham had continued the trend of lower league sides such as Chesterfield in building an architecturally-pleasing new stadium. After being depressed at the bland and thoughtless efforts of grounds like Scunthorpe and Walsall whilst on my travels, I left with high hopes that the New York Stadium would follow where Chesterfield’s B2Net had left off. Promisingly, the pictures I had seen suggested I was in for a treat!

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I made the short 45-mile journey by car from my home in Lincoln and arrived at around 1.30pm, with no problems encountered. The ground was really easy to find, situated just off the main dual carriageway into the town (around three miles from Junction 33 of the M1). I took the advice of this website as to street parking around Rotherham’s old Millmoor home and this was fairly plentiful, with no parking restrictions in force. One thing I would suggest is to park up at least an hour before kick-off if using this area as spaces soon disappeared. I did notice that there is a manned paid-for parking area at the Millmoor ground and there are signs for this from the main road, but the charge was not advertised.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

I took my two lovely children to the game so therefore had a break from the usual pre-match ritual of a visit to a chippy and at least one local watering hold! Before the game we went for a look at Millmoor, which is still sadly sitting empty and unused. I went to this ground only once, shortly before it closed in 2008, and whilst not aesthetically pleasing it was steeped in local folklore and the scene of many happy years for the club before they were sent into exile at the Don Valley Stadium. After almost shedding a tear for this loveable old ground, we went to collect our tickets. Fans might like to note that pre-booked tickets are available from a table inside the club shop, although it is an idea to take your printed booking confirmation with you if seats are secured over the internet as not all of my tickets printed off! The Rotherham fans seemed relatively happy and harmless – a far cry from some of the battles I remember them having with Lincoln over the years!

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The outside of the ground looks pretty steep and imposing. This theme is continued inside, with all stands being built at quite an angle, which reminds me somewhat of Tynecastle, although this affords an excellent view of the pitch from any angle. The steepness of the ground does make it look extremely compact from inside, which may help Rotherham build an excellent atmosphere over the coming years, particularly if their good home form continues to give them something to shout about! The away fans were located towards one side of the Morrisons stand. The similarly-designed home fans’ end was packed out by kick off. Both roofs are built at a gradient, gradually making their way down from the tallest side-stand (West Stand), to the significantly smaller Ben Bennett family stand.

I was excited by kick-off given that Rotherham’s form had improved since Steve Evans returned from his six-match stadium ban, whilst Plymouth had won three out of their last four. This suggested that the game could be a goal-fest full of free-flowing, attacking football, but could potentially end up with two similarly-matched sides cancelling one another out. Sadly it turned out to be the latter scenario, with Rotherham edging over the line with the only goal of the game coming from close range midway through the second half. The result was a tad harsh on a well-organised Plymouth side, although their poor final ball meant they were the architects of their own downfall.

The atmosphere seemed good at kick off but dropped dramatically during the course of the game, with the travelling fans making most of what little noise there was. Even the goal didn’t seem to rouse a lot of the Rotherham faithful. The good old Pukka Pie is sold at the ground (£3.00) and there is draught beer and cider available at £3.00 per pint (Strongbow, Fosters, John Smiths). The concourses seemed wide enough given that the stand was fairly full and the toilets were clean and sparking as should be expected at a new ground. The stewards seemed pretty friendly and innocuous, although one incident of note came ten minutes from the end, when a couple and their child were escorted out by stewards for swearing and gesturing to the Plymouth fans. They initially refused to leave, meaning that around 10 of Rotherham’s Finest were called in to remove them from the premises! What a depressing end to a family day out!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We left five minutes before the end to make the short journey back to the car and were straight on the road home, with no problems encountered. Upon exiting the ground, I heard a couple of ‘non-Rotherham’ accents behind me, turned round and got chatting to a couple of kindly older gents who are groundhoppers and had come up to tick the New York stadium off their list. They were ninety-two club members and both said they were arranging a trip to Fleetwood Town to re-complete their marathon of ground visits. I certainly hope I am still visiting grounds with such enthusiasm when I am their age! On a similar note, I noticed a variety of accents when picking up my tickets, which suggested that there were a fair few other groundhoppers who had made the journey. I am sure there will be many more over the course of the season!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I came away feeling happy to have completed another ground and pleased at the design and layout of the New York. The only grumble I could think of is that the stadium lacks an authentic look, which could perhaps have been borrowed with using some old signs and memorabilia from Millmoor. One thing I hate seeing at new grounds are some of the bland ‘Club Shop’ and ‘Box Office’ signs that suggest fans are going to any old entertainment venue rather than the plush new home of a proud club.

That said, the stadium is brilliantly positioned next to the town centre, is near main roads and is only a few minutes from the railway station. The sight lines are excellent and the facilities and leg room is comfortable.

Most importantly, though, Rotherham now have a home of their own back in the town. It is one that they can be proud of and I am sure it will serve them well for many years to come.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

New ground, literally and first appearance in the competition for a while

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Journey was easy as it was midweek, but I can imagine a Saturday game may be a little more tricky due to the Town Centre location. Car Parks a plenty but again, Saturdays may be more tricky

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

With the Town Centre location it brings with it a wide a varied arrange of drinking hostelries and eating establishments

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

Looks impressive from the outside although not completely finished yet but inside it does seem a very small ground and looks like it’s been done on the cheap. The seating areas are quite steep and the stadium has the worse PA system that I’ve ever heard. Worse than a railway station platform

JPT 1st round – Midweek so the atmosphere wasn’t bouncing, only 4,000 fans in a 12,000 seater stadium. Our 400 away fans made a lot more noise. Stewards very strict and we weren’t allowed to bring flags into the ground and we heard that out ‘drum’ was turned away as well. Only 1 catering outlet open in our stand but as there were only 400 fans, this wasn’t an issue

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Not too bad, away quite quickly but again, weekends may be different.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A new stadium and another ticked off the list, but I would describe the footballing experience as OK. York won 1-0 so that part was excellent.

Rotherham United v Bradford City
League Two
Saturday September 1st 2012, 3pm
Michael Horsfall (Bradford City fan)

1The main reason that I was looking forward to the match was that matches between Rotherham and Bradford generally generate a great atmosphere. After a few years of watching this match at the Don Valley I couldn’t wait to taste the atmosphere of the New York Stadium, especially since we (Bradford City) had sold out the 2,200 away end.

The journey was very easy as it was only a 25 minute train journey from where I live. The ground is very easy to find as it is just a 5 minute walk from the train station and is easily seen from link roads into the town. Car parking did not appear to be a problem from what I could see around the ground.

I found the home fans very friendly around the ground both before and after the game. I tried out 2 bars before the game. The first was Liquid Envy which in about 200 yards from the ground. The drinks only cost £2.00 per pint but you get what you pay for. The beer was flat and warm so we tried to find another bar in the Town Centre. This was difficult however, with most bars now allowing away fans in. We did however find one, the Bridge Inn. This was friendly with a good selection of real ales.

First impressions of the ground were very good. A modern stadium that stood out a mile from it’s surroundings. From the outside it was hard to believe that this ground only held 12,000 seats. Upon entry into the stadium I was again impressed. The facilities were of the highest quality and the food / drink was excellent. I had a Pie and a pint which cost £6.00. I had a very good view of the whole ground from where I was sat, although some people may need to be aware that it is quite steep. I was happy about this however because it meant that there was ample leg room.

View From The Away Section

The game itself did not pan out as well as I had hoped. 1-0 down inside 2 minutes is never a good thing but to be 3-0 down by half time is even worse. Despite this, I must say that the atmosphere was excellent throughout by both sets of supporters. The stewards did seem a little petty though, bursting the hundreds of balloons at the front of the away end which held the game up for about 5 minutes.

Bradford City Fans At The Game

It was easy to get away from the ground after the game as far as the train station. If only it was as easy as that from then on. There was only 1 train an hour heading for Leeds and it only had 2 coaches which was not good when the station was heaving with football fans. I had to get a train to Doncaster and change which added about an hour to my journey.

All in all it was an excellent day out despite losing 4-0 in the end. I would recommend this ground to anyone wishing to attend an away game, although be aware that you may come away empty handed as Rotherham seem to have a new lease of life since moving from the Don Valley to the New York Stadium.

I was looking forward to the first day of the new campaign and had given up my Palace season ticket to do one of the two new grounds to the League this season. I travelled by train with my wife Marie arriving at Rotherham Central just before mid-day. Our first task was to collect the tickets from the ground.

The New York Stadium is well sign posted from the station and believing (wrongly) a sign post had been turned round, proceeded to the new-looking floodlight pylons I could see, only to realize we were heading for Millmoor. A kindly local walked with us most of the way to the new ground. My error only put five minutes on the journey but please remember to follow the signs. The exterior of New York Stadium is very impressive and looks both slick and imposing. Having collected the tickets I was returning towards town and a watering hole when Steve Evans, Rotherham’s new Manager passed and gave me a cheery “hello”.

I had selected the Rhinoceros pub in Bridgegate in order to be a Ninety-Two Club meeting point. This is one of a number of pubs within five minutes walk of the station all of which seemed well populated. The Rhinoceros was quite busy with pre-match fans and food and drink was reasonable as you would expect in a Wetherspoons. Around ten members of the Ninety-Two Club met there including Duncan Adams who is this web site owner and to whom we all owe a thank you for the information he provides which we need to get to various venues.

The ground is about 10 minutes walk from the Rhinoceros. The build of the ground is good with comfortable seats and good leg room. The atmosphere inside was party-like for the first ever competitive fixture and went very much Rotherham’s way when they were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute. The 2-0 score line at half time flattered Rotherham slightly but when Burton were reduced to ten men this was only ever going to be a convincing home win. Rotherham running out 3-0 winners in front of a sell-out crowd of 11,411.

It was a warm and humid afternoon and a most enjoyable day out. We returned south by train from central with many Burton fans, changing at Sheffield. On the train were a group of Barnsley fans, a Shrewsbury fan and a chap within reach of finishing the 92 this season which made for a pleasant conversation. We arrived home in time for a quick take away and Match of the Day. A great day out!

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was looking foward to seeing Rotherham's New York stadium. It was good to go to a new ground and to see Rotherham back in their home city and not at the dire Don Valley Stadium. After seeing SUFC play Rotherham at three different grounds it was good to see them in their rightful place.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

As I was traveling from Sheffield it wasn’t much of a hassle. I got to the ground at about 6:30pm and found some off street parking. There is plenty around Rotherham but you have to get there early to get a decent spot

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Before the game we went hunting for food. As the town centre is only a brief 5 minute walk away you found all the mod cons and respectable eating establishment. There are a few pubs around the ground but didn’t venture in as the local rivalry is always a factor to these sorts of games and therefore segregating the pubs into home fans only. There were a few burger vans around the ground to visit as well.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

From the outside the ground looks massive and very impressive. When travelling over the bypass you can see the floodlights and it brings back the nostalgia of an old fashioned football ground. When walking up to its very impressive. The stadium is still not completed yet so when it is fully done I am sure this will be a cracking ground for away supports to visit

As the game was a friendly it was a non-descript game really. Although the ground was near full with an attendance of 11,033 which made to a very good atmosphere. The acoustics are very good in the ground and the noise travels. As for the stewarding very substandard, it is done by G4S a security company and it just seemed to be a lot of bouncers and not stewards which was a little disconcerting. They were very heavy handed at times and really didn’t know what they were doing. The facilities are still to be decided as the ground is not fully completed, but the entire kiosk inside were open and the prices were very good.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was relatively easy and was home for 10:10pm.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Very good ground and will be a cracking day out for a competitive match. There was 3500 in the away end the noise was fantastic. Rotherham finally has a ground to be proud of.

I was particularly looking forward to this game not just because of the new ground but because of the whole symmetry of the fixture. I spent 8 years in the 80's & 90's working for the company on whose land the ground was built but had only visited Rotherham a couple of times in the intervening years. So , a chance to look at the town again and with the added attraction of a new ground and Donny playing.

Despite the ground being in the town it is an easy journey by car , bus and train sitting as it does just yards from the main avoiding road which in turn is no more than 3 miles from the MI " Sheffield Parkway " junction.The railway and bus stations are a 5 & 6 minute walk away respectively. Car parking however is a little more difficult, space outside the ground is very limited so I would suggest driving past the ground entrance and turning right at the T junction lights and following signs to the town car parks.

Being so centrally situated there are plenty of pubs and eateries. The two Wetherspoon pubs The Rhinoceros and The Bluecoat fit the bill nicely with the latter being the better of the two, slightly off the beaten track and quieter.

First impression of the ground coming from the town was disappointing. A new buiding fronts the main road and hides most of the stadium, on walking further it transpires that the original offices of my old company are still standing in a sorry and dilapidated state, they had been Grade 2 listed. Having said that and noted that there was still quite a bit of tidying to do around the edges the view of the stadium arriving from the opposite side would be magnificent.

Inside, the ground thankfully has a lot of character. The Main Stand which houses all the offices and private boxes is higher than the two similar sized stands behind the goal and in turn they are higher than the basic stand covering the far side of the pitch. As the guide says though what makes this stand so interesting are the two floodlights above it which, other than a few lights attached to the roof of the main stand, light the whole ground. Overall they balance the ground perfectly. The away end had large comfy seats plus the viewing and sight lines were excellent. The stewards were finding their way too but were friendly and helpful, the only downside was one small kiosk open to serve 1400+ visitors so I did not get near it. Having said that with Pukka Pies sponsoring one of the stands and with this being Rotherham expect tasty food at reasonable prices.

As for the game I am happy it was only a friendly. The Rovers are undergoing serious team re-building after last seasons relegation with players only joining after others have moved and funds have been freed.up. Consequently our back four was two full backs and two midfielders. We did however take a lead early in the second half but Rotherham came back with two goals to earn a deserved win and look as if they have a good season ahead.

The only similarity to Millmoor left is that visiting fans have to walk past the home fans end to get to and from their seats but there was no trouble and the Police had closed the main road to cars so we could disperse quickly.

Rotherham are and always will be our main rivals, both clubs have been through recent bad times and neither set of fans has cared about the others predicament .So through gritted teeth I would say that Rotherham have finally got themselves a modern, well designed ground to be proud of and the basis of a team to match.